Normally, 36 hr shifts are pain that you bring onto yourself. Most of the time a 36 is someone working a first half following a 24 hr shift. I've never heard of a service scheduling 36 hour EMS shifts, though there are some fire departments that do a 48 hour shift. I can't really say that either one makes any sense, especially EMS. I don't think I'd care to be treated by someone who hasn't slept in a day and a half. Still, I equally sure it happens more often that we think.

I work for a fire dept., and 24 hour shifts are the norm. It's common when people call in sick to see guys pull 48 hrs., and if it happens to be their day off between shifts, they could end up with a 72 hr. shift. Frightening, esp. with our call volume, but it does happen.

We work 72 hours shifts here where im at. Not all that bad until you have a week like i did last week. Run the usual 911 calls and typical office busy work during the day and then end up out until the sun comes up each morning with transfers. I tell ya when i finally got off after that one i was in a coma for 14 hours once i finally made it home. For the most part though we can nap whenever as time allows.

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*My statements are my opinion and do not reflect those of my employer*

Here in the wilds of Arizona, we run 48 hour shifts (followed by 4 days off). It is a busy shop and standup shifts are common - standup being what we call shifts where we dont get to sleep. I will run an average of 16 to 20 calls on a 48. And yeah - it can be a killer. Every third shift, we get to go into the valley, where we will normally only run 5 or 6 calls in that period, however, this makes us the transfer crew. Runs into Phoenix and/or Las Vegas at midnight are common.

At slow services there is no reason not to work long shifts. I often do 120 hour shifts, paid all 120. I travel in and stay at the station. But this station averages less than 200 calls per year, so plenty of sleep time.

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MMiz;447670 said:

7:11 PM on December 9, 2012. A date which will live in infamy. ffemt8978 agrees with medic417.

We've had this discussion before. The answer about appropriateness lies completely in the circumstances. If it is a rural or generally low-call volume department, with appropriate facilities for crew to sleep, work, etc, then I have no problem with longer shifts 12, 24, 36 hours, whatever. Oh yeah, and "on call" systems dont count-- that is systems that allow you to maintain your daily routine as long as you stay within the response area and appropriate transportation.

Now, systems with upwards of 8, 10, 12 calls/8 hours have NO place on shifts any longer then 16 hours. I dont care if those are emergencies, transfers, etc. At that point, the crew should no longer be driving, responsible for patient care, etc.

I will note that the company that I work for does maintain 2 ALS trucks on 24 hour shifts, and they may have a high call volume during the day, but they then have very few or no calls during the night and appropriate accommodations for sleep.

I am also a part of a college EMS corps. We also maintain 24 hour shifts "on call", but allow our on-call members to maintain their daily activities, sleep in their dorm, go to class, etc, as long as they stay on campus. We also average ~1 call/shift. I am in the middle of a ~3 day shift right now, but dont mind...

I've never worked more than 19 hours straight on Ambulance, and that was my own doing; Worked a 12 and then agreed to take 3 football standbys that lasted another 7 hours. The company I worked for did 10's and 12's only, unless we braught it on ourselves; and few did because our call volume was a little on the high side. On SAR last fall, I spent 36 hours straight in the middle of the wilderness on a search for a missing hiker during a storm, only to be air-lifted out and replaced so that I could wring out my clothing, get a hot meal, and rejoin for another 12 hours. Now that was HELL!

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Charleston County EMS in SC uses a 24/48, or 12 hour 3 on/2 off/2 on/3 off. The 24/48 would frequently become a 36/36, or a 48/24, due to forced overtime. Absolutely miserable, as their 24 hour rigs can be as busy as their 12 hour ones. 100mph with your hair on fire for two days straight.

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